State officials have announced a series of informational sessions regarding the proposed public pension settlement, with the first forum scheduled for Feb. 26 in Cranston.

The meetings come after Gov. Lincoln Chafee, General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, union attorneys and other officials announced the agreement during a Valentine’s Day press conference. The deal would settle legal challenges to pension reform laws passed in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and would preserve roughly 95 percent of the savings realized under the latter law, which was championed by Raimondo.

The gatherings are also being held as six “blocks” of public employees and retirees prepare to vote on the settlement, the first of multiple steps needed for approval. If more than 50 percent of any one block – teachers, state employees, municipal employees, firefighters, police and retirees – rejects the deal, the settlement fails and litigation continues.

The voting will be conducted by mail, and must take place within a 60-day window of the settlement’s announcement. Under the agreement negotiation by the state and plaintiffs in the legal action, unreturned ballots will be counted as “yes” votes, with those voting instructed only to return their ballot if they are voting “no.”

The settlement will also require judicial backing and the approval of the General Assembly.

The first session is scheduled for 5 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Cranston Portuguese Club, located at 20 Cranston Ave. in Cranston.